§ Mr. WORTHINGTON EVANSasked the President of the Board of Trade the estimated number of associations whose authorised payments to its members when unemployed, inclusive of any payments in respect of which a refund may be made to the association under Section 105 of the National Insurance Act. 1911, represent a provision for unemployment as respects such of its members as are workmen in an insured trade which is at least one-third greater than the provision represented by unemployment benefit under the above Act, and which, therefore, will be affected by Clause 8, Sub-section (1), of the amending Bill?
§ Mr. BURNSAccording to the information at present in the possession of the Board of Trade, all the 103 associations which have made arrangements under Section 105 of the National Insurance Act appear by their rules to make such provision for unemployment as will enable them to satisfy Clause 8 (1) of the amending Bill.
§ Mr. WORTHINGTON EVANSasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of workpeople compulsorily insured against unemployment under the National Insurance Act, on 25th April, 1914; and the number of workpeople voluntarily insured under the same Art on the same date?
§ Mr. BURNSThe estimated number of workpeople holding unemployment books under Part II. of the National Insurance Act, 1911, at 25th April, 1914, was 2,284,903. The estimated membership of the associations who have satisfied the conditions for a refund under Section 106 of the Act, exclusive of members following insured trades, is about 660,000, according to the latest figures available. 933W A certain proportion of this membership consists of persons who do not subscribe for unemployment benefit in their associations, but I am not able to state what this proportion is.
§ Mr. WORTHINGTON EVANSasked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the difference between the number of persons insured against unemployment under the National Insurance Act, 1911, as represented by the value of stamps issued during the six months, July to December, 1913, and the estimated number of workpeople insured against unemployment is represented by arrears or by workmen receiving unemployment insurance benefit; and if he will state how the remaining difference, if any, is accounted for?
§ Mr. BURNSThe total value of all stamps issued for the purpose of paying unemployment insurance contributions in the last six months of 1913 was £900,202. This represents for each week of the period 1,662,000 full weekly contributions of 5d. The estimated total number of unemployment bocks current at 30th September (being the middle of the period referred to is 2,150,000. This number represents the number of 1912–13 books exchanged at or after 1st July, 1913 for 1913–14 books, together with the number of new books issued to the end of September, 1913, and subject to an allowance for wastage through death and other causes. Of the 2,150,000 unemployment books current, 110,000 are books issued to juvenile workmen under eighteen, who contribute only 2d. per week. Making allowance for this, and an allowance of 10 per cent. in respect of unemployment, sickness, and holidays (unemployment 4 per cent., sickness 2.5 per cent., and holidays 3.5 per cent.), the 2,150,000 unemployment books current should, assuming that the holders contributed regularly when in employment, yield each week 1,875,000 full weekly contributions of 5d. The difference between this number and the number of full weekly contributions represented by the value of the stamps issued, namely, 213,000, appears to be due to the fact that many workmen hold unemployment books which are only intermittently stamped. One cause of this intermittent stamping is doubtless that the obligations of the Act are not in all eases fully observed. Another cause is that many workmen (especially in certain occupations) are only intermittently employed in the insured trades.